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Every year before Diwali she would call me with a patent question, 'What are you making?' and to annoy her I would reply, 'nothing maa, will buy something from the shop'. I knew this would irritate her and could almost see her smirk with disgust. After that would come a series of lecture ending with another patented emotional dialogue with a deep sigh, 'I wish I could send you some homemade sweets, but I am so far away...' Yes every year she would almost force me to make some homemade sweet for her grandson and son in law who are lactose intolerant and while I knew I would oblige her, yet I could never let this chance go to annoy and irritate her.

....This year I just remembered that and started grinding the cashews she got me in March. The last stash from her and somehow I wanted to make something very special with them. Not my usual cashew barfi that I make every year but something special, bright and glittery like her soul which brought joy to all of us.

I made cashew fruits this Diwali Maa, something that your grand kids and Jamai adored. Hope this makes you happy.

You know its Diwali time when your facebook and blogger feed gets flooded with various sweets and snacks recipe. So much so that you need to kick your lazy self and get something going in the kitchen. I had no intention to make anything this year. The aggravated work pressure doesnot allow me any free time to even think and plan anything for this blog. I keep telling myself things will change soon but I keep struggling to fit in all thats needed to be done in the 24 hours frame.

It seems winter would be early this year, not that am complaining but definitely worried about the erratic behaviour of the weather. Last year hardly there was any day when the temperature dropped below the usual and this year it's not even Diwali but there is a quite visible nip in the air around the evening time. And as usual like every other year it makes my heart happy.

Today is Bijoya Dashomi the last day of Durga Puja, when after a few days of vacation at her parents the Goddess goes back to Lord Shiva in Kailas Mountain. In every way it marks the end of the five day festivities all around Bengal. So while other parts of India celebrates Dussera with aplomb, a strange gloomy feeling surrounds Bengal and Bengali. After all the preparation, anticipation, pandal hopping, dressing up Dashomi makes us overwhelmed with mixed emotions.While our heart yearn for one more day of Puja frenzy, our mind assures us 'asche bachor abar habe' to wait for the puja next year.

No matter how much
we believe in eating local and seasonal food but its a proven fact
that a sight of any loved ingredient which is not in season brings
exquisite joy. The same thing happened to me when I saw Nolen gur ice
cream on a hot sultry monsoon afternoon. And the joy knew no bound
when I discovered it’s from one of my most trusted brand Mother
Dairy. I grew up eating their dairy products and follow the same with
two kids. Without doubt it’s like our most trusted source of all
things dairy.

The month September
is very important for Bengalis. No matter in which corner he lives
this month will make his inner bong come to life. In the cooler
climates with the advent of fall and that chill in the air he still
will dream of the balmy weather in Bengal and the smell of new
clothes. Just looking at the calendar and realising ‘pujo ese gelo
(pujo is near)’ will make him oblivious to his surroundings and
long to come back home.

Yes, for us Bengalis
Durga puja is synonymous to Home Coming. While Figuratively the
festival honours Maa Durga coming home to her parents but in spirit
it’s an inspiration to all Bengalis across the Globe to come home
and celebrate the four days of puja with their family and dear ones.
May be that is the reason we ritually clean our house before this
biggest festival of ours. To keep it ready and inviting for everyone
who come visiting.

For the first 21 years of my life I had no idea that a savory recipe with sabudana does exist. till that time sabudana for me meant an anemic looking 'Sabu' or a sweet gloopy mess of sago pearls which we would get as a meal during long suffering sickness. I though loved the other sweeter version of the same sago which is soaked and mixed with freshly grated coconut,milk and sugar, A fasting dish that maa or Dida would consume while following some religious ritual and refrain from consuming regular grains like rice or wheat.

About Me

Mom of two beautiful kids, one 7 years old boy and a 2 years old girl.A true blue Bengali at heart, a self employed Designer who strives to strike a balance between her personal and professional life. Holds her family and memories close to her heart. Finds solace in cooking and feeding with love. You will get to see her whip up old Bengali recipes as well as other kinds from allover the world.
Contact: ahomemakersdiary@yahoo.in